Clutch mechanism



Feb. 20, 1934. G. c. FILE CLUTCH MEGHANI SM 5 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Ncgv. 9, 1951 INVENTOR BY M 0.

ATTORN EYS Feb. 2o, 1934. GV, C. FILE I 1,948,068

CLUTCH MECHANISM l Filed Nov. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff@ E EI-"9-1.7

' gorda?? 5F/'ze E INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. G. c. FILE 1,948,068

CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Shree?I 3 Gordo?? @J7/7e INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. G. c. FILE CLUTCH MECHANI SM Filed NOV. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gordo/7 C.' .File

INVENTOR WMM/0.

ATTORNEYS Feb. zo, 1934. G, C, mE 1,948,068

CLUTCH MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 9. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheefl 5 .Gordon Cf f'i/e INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1.934

UNETED STATES PATENT OFI-ica CLUTCH MZECHANISM Gordon C. File, Buchanan, Mich. Application November 9, 1931. Serial No. 573,962

' s claims. (on lez-53) My invention relates to improvements ,in clutch mechanisms, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed. n

An object of my invention is to provide certain novel improvements in the form of my invention embodied in my application for patent, Serial No. 400,911.

A further object of my invention is to pro# vide novel means in a transmission mechanism whereby the speed ratio of the driven shaft with respect to the driving shaft 'may be changed without clashing the gears.

A further object is to provide novel means in a transmission mechanism whereby the gears may be disposed in continuous mesh.

A further object is to provide novel means in a transmission mechanism for synchronizing the driven shaft with the driving gears preliminary to the changing .of speeds.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple, durable, positive in operation, and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application,

in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a transmission mechanism embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the clutch element shown in Figure 1 connected with the driving shaft,

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a clutch ele-l ment shown in Figure 1 adapted for locking engagement with the clutch element shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a face of the clutch element shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the clutch element shown in Figures 3 'and 4, a portion thereof being shown in section,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the clutch element fshown in Figure 2, a portion of the driving shaft with which it is connected being shown in section.,v

Figure 'l is a view in elevation of the face of the clutch element shown in Figures 2 and 6,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the actuating lever and associated mechanism, portions thereof being shown in elevation,

VFigure 2 is a horizontal sectional view ci the structure shown in Figure 8, portions thereof being shown in elevation,

Figure 10 is an elevational view partly in section of another form of my invention, v

Figure 11 is an isometric view of the clutch .60 element shown in Figure 10 connected with the driving shaft,

Figure 12 s an isometric-view of a clutch element shown in Figure 10 adapted for locking engagement with the clutch element shown in Figure 11,

FigureI 13 is a view in elevation of a face of the clutch element shown in Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the clutch element shown in Figures 12 and -13, 70

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the clutch element shown in Figure 11, a portion of the driving shaft being shown in section,

Figure 16 is a view in elevation of the face of the clutch element shown in Figures 11 and 15, and l v Figure 17 is a perspective view of the friction clutch member and the locking clutch member with which it is operatively connected.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a transmission housing 1 as shown in Figure 1. A driving shaft 2 extends within the housing and is provided.' with a gear portion 3 and a clutchengaging portion 4. A driven shaft 5 is in axial alinement with the driving shaft 2. The driving shaft 2 is journaled for receiving an end 6 of the driven shaft 5.k The other end of the driven shaft extends through the housing in which it is mounted and is operatively connected to a drive shaft, not shown, the same 9@ being old in the art. A gear 'I is rotatably mounted on the shaft 5 and is provided with a clutch-engaging portion 8. A gear 9 is s'lidably and non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 5 and is provided with a hub portion 10 having an an- 95 nular recess 10' for receiving the forked end portion of an actuating arm 11.

Integral gears 12, 13, 14, and 15 are rotatably mounted on an auxiliary shaft 16 which, in turn, is mounted in the housing 1. The gears 12 and 13 are in continuous mesh with the gears 3 and 7, respectively. The gear 9 is adapted for being moved into operative relation with either of the gears 14 or 15.

A clutch mechanism 17 is mounted onV the driven shaft 5 and is slidable and non-rotatable with respect to said shaft 5. The clutch mechanism is positioned between the clutch-engaging portions 4 and 8 of the driving shaft 2 and the gear .7, respectively. The clutch mechanism 17' comprises a locking clutch member 18 and fric.

vtion clutch members 19 and 19' slidable and non-rotatable with respect to each other. The specific construction of the clutch members 18 and 19 and the clutch-engaging portions 4 and 8 will be hereinafter explained in detail. As shown in Figures 1 and 9 a pair of parallel and spaced-apart actuating rods 20 and 21 is slidably disposed in the top portion 22 of the housing 1. A pair vof oppositel;7 positioned leverengaging arms 23 and 24 is iixedly connected with the actuating rods 20 and 21, respectively, and is provided with recesses 25, 25 for receiving the end 26 of a gear shift lever 27. The lever arm 23 is provided with an extending portion 28 having a forked end portion 29 receivable in an annular recess 30 of the clutch member 18. A pair of actuating arms 31 and 31'is slidably mounted on the rod 20 on opposite sides of the lever-engaging arm 23. The actuating. arms are limited in their movements with respect to the rod 20 by means of pins 32 connected with the rod 20 and receivable in recesses 33 in the end of the arms 31 and 3l'. Spring members 34 and 34' are disposed on the rod 20 and are positioned between the lever arm 23 and the actuating arms 31 and 31'.

'Ihe arms 31 and 31' are provided with forked extensions 35 receivable. in annular recesses 36 of the clutch members 19 and 19', respectively. The arm 11 is xedly connected with the slidable rod 21.

It will be noted on referring to Figure 9` that the rods 20 and 21 are provided with arcuateshaped recesses 37 for receiving spring pressed balls 38. Each oftherods 20 and 2l'is fui'- ther provided with an arcuate shaped recess 39 for receiving an end of a locking bar 40- slidably disposed in a transverse portion 41 of the top portion 22 of the housing l.

The constructions of the clutch-engaging p0rtions 4 and 8 are identical except that the flange portions thereof are oppositely positioned and therefore a description of one will suffice for both. The clutch-engaging portion 4 comprises a circular base portion 42.which, in this instance, is integral with the driving shaft 2. l The base portionin connection with the clutchengaging portion 8 forms a part of the gearl7. The base portion 42 has a fiat face'43 disposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of the driving and driven shafts. The face of the base portion is provided with a. pair of diametrically opposed and transversely extending varcuate-shaped flange portions 44 positioned adjoining the periphery of the base portion with which the outer surfaces of said flange portions join.' The flange portions each comprise a lower raised portion 45 and a higher raised portion 46. The juncture of the higher raised portions with the lower raised portions provides a pair of oppositely disposed faces 47. The ends of the higher raised portions 46 provide a pair of oppositely disposed driving faces 48 Vand the ends of the lower raised portions provide a pair of oppositely disposed faces 49. All of the oppositely disposed faces are positioned at' substantially right angles to the face 43.

The lower raised portions 45 and the higher raised portions 46 are respectively provided with faces 50 and 51 which are disposed in substantially parallel planes with respect to each other and the face 43 of the base portion 42. The outside surfaces of the ange portions 44 are .tapered from the base portion 42 toward the axis of the driven shaft 5 for providing beveled surfaces 52.

As shown in Figure 1 the shaft 5 is provided with splines 53. 'Ihe locking clutch member 18 is slidably mounted on the shaft 5 and is held against rotation with respect to said shaft by means of integral spline portions 54 receivablev in the splines 53 of the shaft. As shown in Figure 3 the locking clutch membery comprises a pair of integral clutch portions 55,a.nd 55.y

The portions 55 and 55. are adapted for engagement with the clutch-engaging portions 4 and 8, respectively, and, since they have a common construction, it is believed that a description 'of the construction of the clutch portion 55 will sufiice for both. e

The clutch portion 55 is provided with a plane face 56 disposed at right angles to the axis of the driven shaft 5. The clutch portion 55 is 'further provided with a pair of oppositely dis- 'I'he ange portions 60 are positioned from the face 56a distance substantially equal to the difference in height between the portions 45 and 46 of the ange portions 44 of the clutch-engaging portion 4. The fiang'e portions are also positioneda suilicient distance from the shoulders 59 for receiving the portions 46 of the flange portions 44 therebetween and are provided with shoulder portions 60 for engaging the faces 47 of the flange portions 46. The shoulders 58 and 59 of the projecting portions 57 are spaced a .suicient distance apart for receiving the flange `portions 44 therebetween and the faces 48 and 49-of the flange portions 44 are ,spaced a suilicient distance apart for receiving the projecting portions 57 therebetween. 'I'lie projecting portions 57 are provided with splines 61 for receiving spline portions 62 of the friction clutch member 19, as shown in Figure 17.

The friction clutch member 19 is provided with an annular projecting iiange portion 63 having an inner surface 64 beveled at substantially the same angle as the beveled surface 52 of the flange portions 44. The beveled surface 64 normally overlaps the beveled surface 52 in a slightly spaced-apart position wherebyisoy the gear 15, depending on whether it is desired l to have the transmission operate in low or reverse speeds, respectively.- f

A clutch mechanism of any suitable type not shown is operatively associated with the source of power and the driving shaft 2 whereby the driving shaft 2 may be disconnected from the source of power. n

It wm be noted that when the rod 21 is movedthe locking bar 40 is moved into the 'recess 39 of the rod thereby locking the rod 20 against movement while the gear 9 is operatively connected with the gear 14 or the gear 15. The spring pressed ball 38 associated with the rod 21 holds the rod in its shifted position.

After the shift lever 27 is actuated for returning the rod 21 to its normal position shown in Figure 9, at which time the gear 9 is disposed in its neutral position shown in Figure 1, the rod 20 may be moved by moving the shift lever 27 into engagement with the arm 23 and then actuating the shift lever.

When the rod 20 is actuated the transmission may operate in second or third speeds depending on the direction in which the rod 20 is moved.'

j Let us assume that it is desired to have the transmission operate in third speed. 'I'he shift lever .27 is first moved into engagement with the arm 23 and then actuated for moving the arm 23 and the rod 20 in the direction of the arrow 65 in Figure 1. The movements of the arm 23 are practically continuous but are divided into two stages for the sake of clearness. As the arm 23 begins its movement during the first stage the pressure on the spring 34 by the arm is transmitted to the actuating arm 31 for moving the friction clutch member 19 whereby the annular flange portion 63 thereof may be moved into frictional engagement. with the beveled faces 52 of the ange portions 44 associated with the clutch member 4.-

As the clutch mechanism associated with the4 source of power and the driving shaft2v does not have to be actuated prior to shifting the transmission mechanism into second or third speed positions the clutch member 4 may be rotating when the flange portion 63 of the friction clutch ymember being in turn splined on the shaft 5.

'I'hus it will` be seen that the coaction of the several elements tends to synchronize the rotation of the driven shaft 5 with the driving shaft during the rst portion of the movement of the arm 23 and the rod 20. In view of the fact that a load is carried by the shaft 5 there will be a drag on the shaft thereby tending to cause the friction clutch member 19 to slip slightly with respect to the flange portions 44. This slipping action will result in the driving shaft 2 rotating slightly faster than the driven shaft 5 ior a short time until the driven shaft 5 gains momentum.

It will be noted .on referring to Figure 1 that when the arm 23 and the rod 20 are moved the extending portion 28 of the arm 23 is also moved for actuating the locking clutch member 18. The locking clutch member 18 is positioned at a sufiicient distance from the clutch member 4 so that it will not be moved into engagement therewith until after the clutch. member 19 is moved into engagement with the flange portions 44. The clutch member 18 is. howeve moved with respect to the shaft 5 during the first stage of the movement of the arm 2,3. It will be noted that although -the friction clutch member 19 has been moved to its extreme positionV by reason of its engagement with the flange portions 44, the arm 23 and the shaft 20 can continue their movements because of the arm 31 being slidably mounted on the shaft 20.

The movement of the arm 23 during the sec# ond stage moves the faces 66 of the projecting portions 57 of the locking clutch member 18 into engagement with one of the faces 51, 50,

43 of the clutch member 4, depending on the relative positions of the clutch members 4 and 18. Let us assume for the purpose of completely describing the operation of the device that the arm 23, the vfaces 51 may move into engagevment with peripheral flange portions 60. The

faces 50 of the lower raised portions 45 move into engagement with the faces 66 simultaneously with the engagement of the higher raised portions 46 with the flange portions 60. The higher raised portions 46 may or may not engage the flange portions 60 as the lower flange portions 45 may properly position the higher raised portions in their proper overlapping relation-1 ship with respect to the shoulders 59.

Continued rotation of the clutch member 4 with respect to the clutch member 18 moves the raised portions 46 along the flange portions 60 until the shoulders 48 of the higher raised portions 46 abut the shoulders 59 of the projecting portions 57 and the shoulders 49 of the lower raised portions 45 pass by the faces 58 of lthe projecting portions 57.

After the shoulders 48 engage the shoulders 59 continued pressure on the arm 23 moves the face 43 of the clutch member 4 into engagement with the face 56 of the clutch member 18 at which time the higher raised Iiange portions 46 will be positioned between the shoulders 59 and 60 and the shoulders 49 of the lower ange portions 45 will be positioned abutting the shoulders 58, at which time the clutch members 4 and 18 will be in complete locking engagement and the arm 23 and the rod 20 will have reached their extreme shifted positions. At this time the springv 34 will be compressed between the arms 23 and 31 and the opening 37 of the rod 20 will be in position for receiving the ball 38. The ball 38 however is not sumcient to retain the rod 20 in the shifted position as the action of the compressed spring 34 will force the ball 38 out of the opening 37. In order to lock the arm 23 in its shifted positions I provide a projecting member 67 connected with the top portion 22 of the housing 1 as shown in Figure 8. The'lever rod 27 is provided with a pair of spaced-apart lug portions 68 integral therewith. The lug portions are provided with aligned openings therethrough for receiving a locking rod 69 slidable with respect to the lug portions 68. The locking rod 69 has its lower end 70 extending beneath the lowermost lug portion 68, the extending portion being normally positioned adjacent the end of the projecting member 67. The locking rod 69 is provided with a ange portion 71 positioned between the lug portions 68 and normally positioned on the lowermost lug portion. A spring 72 is disposed on the rod 69 and is positioned between the flange portion 71 and the uppermost lug portion 68. The openings in the lug portions 68 through which the locking rod 69 extends are sufficiently large to permit the rod to have a certain amountl of play.

'Ihe top end of the rod is 'pivotally connected with an actuating handle 73 which, in turn,

' is pivotally connected with the lever arm 27 and is positioned adjacente knob 74 connected with the top of the lever 4arm 27.

' When moving the lever arm 27 for shifting the rod 21 the actuating handle 73 is not operated. When it is desired to shift the transmission into second or third speeds the actuating handle 73 is first moved for lifting the locking rod'- 69 thereby permitting the end portion 26 of the shift lever 27 to be moved into the recess 25' of the arm 23 without the projecting member 67 engaging the end 70 of the locking rod 69 and thereby interfering with the moving of the shift lever 27. When the end portion 26 of the gear shift lever 27 is positioned in the recess 25' the end 70 of the locking rod 69 is positioned in engagement with the top side of the projecting portion 67. As the shift lever 27 is shifted for moving the arm 23, the end 70 of the locking rod moves along the top of the projecting portion 67 until the clutch members 4 and 18 are moved into locking engagement, at which time the end portion 70 of the locking rod 69 moves off an edge -of the projecting portion 67 andl engages a side thereof thereby locking the clutch members in engagement. When it is desired to 'shift the lever 27 to another position the actuating handle is again operated for moving the. end portion 70 of the locking rod 69 out of engagement with the projecting portion 67 whereby the lever 27 may be shifted.

Y In Figures 10 to 16, inclusive, I have shown another form of my invention. In this form of my invention I provide a clutch-engaging member 75 which is associated with a driving shaft 76 in the same manner as the clutch-engaging member 4 is associated with the driving shaft 2. A similar clutch-engaging member 77 is likewiseA associated with a second speed gear 78 which is mounted on a driven shaft 79 in the same manner as the gear 7 is mounted on the driven shaft 5. A movable clutch member 80 is slidably and nonrotatably"mounted on the driven shaft in the same manner as the clutch member 18 is mounted on the shaft 5. The clutch member 80 is positioned between the clutch members 75 and 77. In view ofthe fact that the clutch-engaging members 75 and 77 are similar except that the flange portions thereof are oppositely disposed a description of the clutch-engaging member 75 will suffice for both. The clutch-engaging member 75 is simprovided with higher raised'portions 84. The

flange portions'82 provide shoulders 85, 86, and 87. The base portion 81 and the lower raised portions 83 are provided with peripheral beveled faces 88 which are common to both in that the beveled faces of the lower raised portions are a continuation of the beveled faces of the base portion. The outer faces of the higher raised vportions 84 are set in from the beveled faces 88 as shown in Figure 11.

The clutch member is similar to the clutch member 18 to the extent that it comprises a pair of clutch portions 89 and 89' which are ar- 'ranged for operative relationship with the clutch-engaging portions rI5 and 77, respectively. 80 As both of the clutch portions and their respective parts are the same a description of the clutch portion 89 and its associated portions will, it is believed, be yfound sufficient. The clutch portion 89 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed and radially extending peripheral flange portions 90 which comprise in part transversely extending arcuate-shaped flange portions 91 having beveled inner faces 92 conforming substantially to the beveled faces 88 of the clutch-engaging portions 75 and 77. Each of the flange portions 91 is provided with shoulders 93 and 94 which are'substantially diametrically opposed with respect to the corresponding shoulders of the opposed flange portion 91.-

On referring to Figure 11 it will be noted that the` adjacent shoulders and 87 of the opposed flanged portions 82 are spaced a sufficient distance apart for receiving the flange portions of the clutch member 80 therebetween, and100 that portions of the base portion 81 positioned between the adjacent shoulders 85 and 87 of the flange portions 82 is cut away for receiving the flange portions 9l,`whereby the flange portions 90 may not be prevented from being positioned 105 between the adjacent shoulders 85 and 87. The flange portions 91 are normally disposed in overlapping and slightly spaced-apart positions with respect to the flange portions 82 with which they are adapted for engagement as shown in Fig- 110 ure 10. A forked arm 95 is mounted on a shift rod 96 which is slidably disposed in the top 22 of the transmission housing 1. The arm 95 is connected with the clutch member 80 whereby the same may be shifted.

In the latter form of my invention I have dispensed with the locking rod 69 and its associated mechanism. I have also eliminated the arms 31 and 31', together with the -springs 34 and 34. In this latter form of my. device the transmission is shifted into low and reverse speeds in the same manner as has been described concerning the first form of my device.

Let us assume that it is desired to shift the transmission into third speed position. The shift lever 97 is first moved for shifting the rod 96 in the direction of the arrow 98 in Figure 10 whereby the arm 95` may be shifted. As the arm 95 is moved faces 99 of the flange portions 90 of the clutch member 80 engage faces 100 of the higher. raised portions 84, see Figures 10 and 11. As the clutch-engaging member 75 rotates, `the higher raised portions 84 move along the faces 99 of the, clutch member until the shoulder portions 86 pass by 135 the shoulder portions 93. Containued pressure on the shift lever then continues the movement of the clutch member 80 towards the clutchengaging member 75 until the beveled faces 92 of the clutch member 80rfrctionally engage the beveled faces 88 of the clutch-engaging member 75. The engagement of the beveled faces will cause the clutch member 80 to be rotated which, in turn, will cause the driven shaft to be rotated thereby tending to synchronize the rotation of the driven shaft with the driving shaft. ,v Any resistance of the driven shaft to the driving shaft such as may be caused by a load being 'connected with the driven shaft K will cause slippage between the beveled faces 88 and 92 N0 1,948,008*Y l p f `i'aces 92 of the clutch member 80 will have moved out of engagement with the beveled faces 88 of the clutch-engaging member '15. Continued pressure on the shift lever wi then move the flange portions 90 of the clutch member 80 between the shoulder portions 85 and 87 of the clutch-engaging member 75. At the same time the higher raised portions 84 will be positioned between the flange portions 90 and the ange portions 101 of the clutch member 80, the shoulders 86 of the higher raised portion 84 being in abutting relationship with the shoulders 102 of the nange portions 1'01.

When shifting transmission mechanisms from third speed to second speed position it is merely necessary to actuate a shift lever for moving the clutch member into engagement with the clutch-engaging member 1'7 associated with the second speed gear 78, the operation being-the same as has been described regarding the engagement of the clutch member 80 `with the clutch-engaging member 75.

Thus it will be seen that in both forms of my invention the driven shaft may be rst rotated at substantially the speed at which it is to be driven and may then be subsequently connected with the driving element.

I claim:

l. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch means comprising a driving element and a' driven element, said driving element being rotatable by the driving` shaft and said driven element being non-rotatably mounted on the driven shaft, an arcuate shaped flange portion connected with 'one of the elements and disposed concentric and in spaced relationship with the driven shaft, said flange portion terminating in shoulder portions, a radially extending peripheral ange portion connected with the other of said elements and terminating in shoulder portions, a radially extending offset flange portion connected with the element having the radially extending flange portion and disposed in spaced apart position with respect to said radially extending flange portion, said arcuate-shaped and radially ex,- tending ange portions being provided with frictional means adapted for engagement, one of said elements being movable for moving the frictional means into mutual engagement, said last named element being further movable for moving the offset flange portion into engagement with the arcuate-shaped flange portion subsequent to the engagement of the frictional means whereby a shoulder portion of the radially extending flange portion may be positioned for engagement with a shoulder portion of the arcuate-shaped flange portion,\said last named element being further movable subsequent to the engagement of the shoulder portions whereby the elements may be retained `in locked relationship.

2. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch means comprising a driving element being rotatable by the driving shaft and said driven element being -nonof the elements and disposed concentric and in spaced relationship with the driven shaft, said ange portion terminating in shoulder portions, a radially extending peripheral flange portion connected with the other of saidA elements and terminating in shoulder portions, a radially ex- 80 tending offset ange portion connected with the element having the radially extending flange portion and disposed in spaced apart position with respect to said radially extending flange portion, said offset ange portion having a shoulder portion, said arcuate-shaped and radially extending flange portions being provided with frictional means adapted for engagement, one of said elements being movable for moving the frictional means into mutual engagement, 90

said last named element being further movlable for moving the offset flange portion into engagement with the arcuate-shaped flange portion 'Y subsequentoto the engagement of the frictional means whereby a shoulder portion of the radi- 05 ally extending iiange portion may be positioned for engagement with a shoulder portion of the arcuate-shaped ange portion, said last named element being further movable subsequent to the engagement of the shoulder portions for moving said last named shoulder portions into further engagement and for moving the shoulder portion of the offset flange portion into engagement with a shoulder portion of the arcuateshaped flange portion, whereby the elements r may be retained in locked relationship.

3. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch mechanism .comprising a. driving element and a driven element, said driving element being rotatable by the driving A shaft and said driven element being non-rotatably mounted on the driven shaft, one of said elements having arcuate-shaped and laterally extending peripheral flange portions disposed in spaced relationship with the driven shaft and 115, comprising a lower afdange portion and a higher liange portion, said ilangeportions terminating in shoulders, a radially extending peripheral flange portion connected with the other of said elements and having shoulders, one of said elel.

Vextending portion may be positioned for abutting engagement with the arcuate-shaped flange p0rtion, one of said elements having an inclined peripheral surface, the other of said elements having a laterally extending peripheral flange portion provided `with an inclined inner surface, said inclined surfaces being positioned for engagement prior to the engagement of the radially extending iiange portion with the arcuate-shaped iiange portion, for operatively connecting the driven element with thev driving element.

4. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch mechanism comprising a driving element and a driven element, said driving element being rotatable by the driving shaft and said driven element being non-rotatably mounted on the driven shaft, one of said elements having a pair of arcuate-shaped, and laterally extending peripheral ange portions diametrically opposed with respect to each other and terminating in shoulders, a pair of radially extending peripheral flange portions connected with the other` of lsaid elements and terminating il@ in` shoulders, said element having the arcuateshaped flange portions being provided with an kinclined peripheral surface, laterally extending the radially extending flange portions into engagement with the arcuate-shaped flange portions and subsequently positioning said radially extending iiange portions between the arcuateshaped flange portions and in abutting relationship therewith for connecting the elements in interlocking relationship.

5. 'I'he combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch mechanism comprising a driving element and a driven element, said driving element being rotatable by the driving shaft and said driven element beingno'n-rotatably mounted on the driven shaft, one-of said elements having a pair of arcuate-shaped and laterally extending peripheral flange portions diametrically opposed with respect to each other and terminating in shoulders, a pair .of radially extending peripheral ange portions connected with the other of said elements and terminating in shoulders, said element having the arcuate-shaped iiange portions being provided with an inclined peripheral surface, a laterally extending peripheral flange portion mounted on the radially extending ange portions and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, said laterally extending flange portion being non-rotatable with respect to said radially extending flange portions and provided withan inclined inner surface, said laterally extending ange portions being movable formoving the inclined surfaces into mutual engagement for frictionally connecting the elements, one of said elements vbeing subsequently movable for moving the radially extending ange portions into engagement with the. arcuate-shaped flange portions and subsequently positioning said radially extending flange portions between the arcuateshaped flange portions and in abutting relationship therewith for connecting the elements in interlocking relationship.

6. The combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft of a clutch mechanism comprising a driving element and a driven element, said driving element being rotatable by the driving shaft and said driven element being non-rotatably mounted on the driven shaft, one of said elements having a pair of arcuate-shaped and laterally extending peripheral flange portions diametrically opposed in spaced relationship and terminating .in shoulders, each of said flange portions comprising a lower flange portion and a higher flange portion,k a pair of diametrically opposed and radially extending peripheral flange portions connected with the other of said elements and having shoulders, one of said elements being movable for moving the radially extending flange portions into engagement with the higher ange portions, said last named element being further movable for moving the radially extending flange portions into engagement with the lower flange portions whereby said radially extending portions may be positioned for abutting engagement with the arcuate-shaped ange portions, said last named element being further movablel for positioning the radially extending flange portions between the arcuate-shaped ange portions and in abutting engagement therewith, said element having the arcuateshaped flange portions being provided with an inclined peripheral surface, laterally extending peripheral flange portions connected with the radially extending flange portions of the other element and provided with an inclined inner surface, said inclined surfaces being positioned for engagement, prior to the engagement of the radially extending ange portions with the arcuate-shaped flange portions, for operatively connecting the driven element with the driving element.

GORDON C. FILE. 

